SSR #3 Chuma Okeke

[Denim Vest]

Coming in at #3 is an elite teen that brings everything we always wanted at the stretch 4, Chuma Okeke. The showcase position in the Bruce Pearl system, it became an albatross around the squad last year. No one could really bring the skillset needed to the position. Chuma brings all that and more.

The GA HS Player of the Year over the likes of one and done lottery projections Collin Sexton and Wendell Carter, Chuma was a borderline 5* prospect and BRUCE would tell you he was still significantly underrated. CO continued to prove that over the summer as he made it to the final cuts of team USA before suffering a minor injury. Later in the summer he averaged a double double in ITALY (although lost to me in bocce repeatedly).

Strengths: Size. Skill. Feel for the game. Considered one of the best rebounders in his class. Can shoot it, can handle it. Powerful hindquarters for boxing out and positioning down low.

Weaknesses: A true freshman. Not the electrifying athlete of a 1 and done type talent. A tad doughy and undefined relative to the rest of our hulking youngsters.

Contribution: This young man looks to be everything we wanted from Danjel last season. The skills of a 3 with the bulk, tenacity and mindset to battle in the paint with 4s and 5s. I expect him to start at the 4 sooner than later. Could moonlight at the 5 or 3 as well if need be. Not gonna be a primary scorer but the youngster will be a stat stuffer and top 5 on the team in pretty much everything.

The GREG ranking: #5

 

[MomentInTheSun]

I'm expecting an incredibly boring but also and incredibly effective player. All the videos I've seen showcase a youngster that never really shows too much emotion but just always gets the job done. Not trying to compare him to an NBA legend, but I expect his demeanor and game to be sort of Tim Duncan esque

 

[Denim Vest]

I'm expecting an incredibly boring but also and incredibly effective player. All the videos I've seen showcase a youngster that never really shows too much emotion but just always gets the job done. Not trying to compare him to an NBA legend, but I expect his demeanor and game to be sort of Tim Duncan esque

The big fundamental crossed my mind as well. I'm right there with you. You won't even notice him because there won't be that highlight reel play but also because he won't do anything incredibly stupid or get abused. The game will end in a comfortable W and he'll have 9pts 8rebs 4 assist 2 steals 2 blocks.

 

[Van Gorstache]

Coming in at #3 is an elite teen that brings everything we always wanted at the stretch 4, Chuma Okeke. The showcase position in the Bruce Pearl system, it became an albatross around the squad last year. No one could really bring the skillset needed to the position. Chuma brings all that and more.

The GA HS Player of the Year over the likes of one and done lottery projections Collin Sexton and Wendell Carter, Chuma was a borderline 5* prospect and BRUCE would tell you he was still significantly underrated. CO continued to prove that over the summer as he made it to the final cuts of team USA before suffering a minor injury. Later in the summer he averaged a double double in ITALY (although lost to me in bocce repeatedly).

Strengths: Size. Skill. Feel for the game. Considered one of the best rebounders in his class. Can shoot it, can handle it. Powerful hindquarters for boxing out and positioning down low.

Weaknesses: A true freshman. Not the electrifying athlete of a 1 and done type talent. A tad doughy and undefined relative to the rest of our hulking youngsters.

Contribution: This young man looks to be everything we wanted from Danjel last season. The skills of a 3 with the bulk, tenacity and mindset to battle in the paint with 4s and 5s. I expect him to start at the 4 sooner than later. Could moonlight at the 5 or 3 as well if need be. Not gonna be a primary scorer but the youngster will be a stat stuffer and top 5 on the team in pretty much everything.

The GREG ranking: #5

Disappointed about his bocce ability. That would have demonstrated an elite touch and fine motor skills.

 

[Gran_Polla]

His inside presents will be appreciated by our star studded shooters.

 

[jeramye]

Kid needs to watch 4 hours of Draymond Green tape every day for the next 3 years. He's got the same body and neither were considered great athletes for their position in this sport originally. Now Green is a nightmare matchup that makes just as big of an impact on the World Champs as Steph does. He's a freak on defense, makes you play small because he can shoot it and rebounds like an animal. He was considered a bit of a wasted pick when he got to the league and then he changed the game.

 

[Denim Vest]

Kid needs to watch 4 hours of Draymond Green tape every day for the next 3 years. He's got the same body and neither were considered great athletes for their position in this sport originally. Now Green is a nightmare matchup that makes just as big of an impact on the World Champs as Steph does. He's a freak on defense, makes you play small because he can shoot it and rebounds like an animal. He was considered a bit of a wasted pick when he got to the league and then he changed the game.

Yeah I’ve had visions of him at the 5 and EJ at the 4 as we run roughshod over the likes of Duke and Arizona in Maui next year. Hoping it still might come true.

 

[ShenaniganZ]

Kid needs to watch 4 hours of Draymond Green tape every day for the next 3 years. He's got the same body and neither were considered great athletes for their position in this sport originally. Now Green is a nightmare matchup that makes just as big of an impact on the World Champs as Steph does. He's a freak on defense, makes you play small because he can shoot it and rebounds like an animal. He was considered a bit of a wasted pick when he got to the league and then he changed the game.

Absolutely no denying his skills but dude is straight trash. Cannot stand that guy. That being said, WOOD take one of him on every team I had.

 

[MomentInTheSun]

Just going off the grainy low grade HS highlight videos I’ve seen, I don’t think Chuma is a Draymond level athlete. But like OP said, he is still just a doughy teenager so we’ll see how he develops.

Did just rewatch a couple of his performances, and the kid has some serious range, mid range game, and a willingness to beat a man off the dribble. He definitely is super skilled. Probably not as athletic as Danjel though

 

[jeramye]

Absolutely no denying his skills but dude is straight trash. Cannot stand that guy. That being said, WOOD take one of him on every team I had.

I have a love/hate with Draymond. I mean you have to hate a man who kicks other dudes in the nuts during the run of play so often. But I also really appreciate my dynastic teams having a mouthy asshole who makes you really root against them passionately. And leagues are more fun with these guys on good teams. Plus he knows what he is. He's not going to be Mr Popular. He's not the Durant or Steph type. So he embraces the hate and feeds off it. I can respect that.

That said, he's too much of an asshole for me to cheer for ever.

 

[ShenaniganZ]

I have a love/hate with Draymond. I mean you have to hate a man who kicks other dudes in the nuts during the run of play so often. But I also really appreciate my dynastic teams having a mouthy asshole who makes you really root against them passionately. And leagues are more fun with these guys on good teams. Plus he knows what he is. He's not going to be Mr Popular. He's not the Durant or Steph type. So he embraces the hate and feeds off it. I can respect that.

That said, he's too much of an asshole for me to cheer for ever.

I just don't like the guy. He is the direct polar opposite of Lebron and just seems like a straight up thug. I have reported myself for being racists FWIW

 

[MomentInTheSun]

I just don't like the guy. He is the direct polar opposite of Lebron and just seems like a straight up thug. I have reported myself for being racists FWIW

I love the way he plays but he’s a straight up idiot. That’s why I don’t like him.

And I’ve got no issues with athletes speaking their minds. They’ve worked their asses off to get to the point where they have that platform. But Draymond is just straight up stupid and ignorant

 

[Fatz Geronimo]

after a bit of negativity in the last few, we’re to the range where I no longer have anything bad to say about anyone else we’ll discuss

CHUMA was an easy pick for the #3 slot, and will be a lynchpin for this program to take the next step... offensively, defensively, attitude, and culture - by any metric, he’s an absolute home run contributor... the type of guy we’ve watched on other teams for years and thought - we just can’t sign guys like him... we could sign great athletes who had no idea how to play basketball (Brandon Robinson) and we could sign guys who knew how to play basketball but just weren’t good enough to win in the SEC (Quantez Robertson), but we didn’t sign enough legitimately smart, reliable, highly skilled players - and the ones we did were routinely backcourt players... I’m having a hard time finding the right comparison for Chuma in our recent history... maybe a more explosive Quan Prowell?

regardless, CHUMA is a stud... and nothing else really needs to be said

 

[WDE_Tarp]

I just don't like the guy. He is the direct polar opposite of Lebron and just seems like a straight up thug. I have reported myself for being racists FWIW

And just like that you made me like him a little bit.

 

[jeramye]

I just don't like the guy. He is the direct polar opposite of Lebron and just seems like a straight up thug. I have reported myself for being racists FWIW

I think he's scum on the court and likes to run his mouth to get under peoples skin, but by most accounts he's a smart, well educated dude who gives a lot of money to good causes, works with kids and is well spoken.

I think he plays a role that benefits him as a player and that's it. I doubt he's much different than Lebron on a random Wednesday night in the summer. The NBA has really lost its true "thug" nature since the years where Iverson was the king of the league and the Portland Jailblazers were running wild. 90% of these dudes are marketing themselves to make $$ now and Dray just decided being the wrestling heel was his best avenue.

 

[MomentInTheSun]

I think he's scum on the court and likes to run his mouth to get under peoples skin, but by most accounts he's a smart, well educated dude who gives a lot of money to good causes, works with kids and is well spoken.

I think he plays a role that benefits him as a player and that's it. I doubt he's much different than Lebron on a random Wednesday night in the summer. The NBA has really lost its true "thug" nature since the years where Iverson was the king of the league and the Portland Jailblazers were running wild. 90% of these dudes are marketing themselves to make $$ now and Dray just decided being the wrestling heel was his best avenue.

I don’t think he’s smart. He just knows how to be provocative and get attention. Once you get passed that, he sounds dumb

 

[ShenaniganZ]

I think he's scum on the court and likes to run his mouth to get under peoples skin, but by most accounts he's a smart, well educated dude who gives a lot of money to good causes, works with kids and is well spoken.

I think he plays a role that benefits him as a player and that's it. I doubt he's much different than Lebron on a random Wednesday night in the summer. The NBA has really lost its true "thug" nature since the years where Iverson was the king of the league and the Portland Jailblazers were running wild. 90% of these dudes are marketing themselves to make $$ now and Dray just decided being the wrestling heel was his best avenue.

Maybe this is the case but dude has been the wrestling heel off the court too.

 

[Slippin Jimmy]

Where is @cardeja12 wheb you need him?

Spoiler

IT’S NOT A CHUMA

 

[Boytano]

Sweet sassy molassy...whut a stud. Even @GregMadia gets the rise in his Levi's When Chuma's name is spoken. This kid is gonna help take us to the promise land!!